Question:

We say that Allah is characterised by Mercy, and His creation may be characterised by mercy, but that the mercy of the creation is unlike the Mercy of The Creator, because there is absolultely nothing like unto Him.

I have read that we don't accept literalists' claims about Allah having a hand, a shin etc because of the verse in the Qur'an "laisa ka mithlihi shay" but the literalists also claim that Allah has a hand which is unlike our hand, just as His Mercy is unlike our mercy.

Are there further reasons for which we reject literalism?

Answer:

It is unwise for anyone to enter into a debate on such a delicate subject. It is sufficient to say that Allah taala has a hand and we accept whatever he means by that- this is the safest attitude.

Having said this the reason why it is possible to say as you have said about the Mecry of Allah is there are two types of characteristics pertaining to Allah:

1) Sifat al-Fil (related to His acts), about this category because we see the result of his Mercy for example we can say "this is the Mercy of Allah taala."

2) Sifat al-Dhat (related to his very being), these are characteristics we cannot appreciate, and it is from this category the words "Shin" and "hand" etc. come. And it is about this category about which we must say; We believe in what they mean completely without knowledge of what they mean.

Mufti Mohammed Sajjad

Wallahu Aalam bis-sawab

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The answer to this question is the opinion of the scholar and does not reflect the opinion of other scholars of As-Suffa Institute and As-Suffa Institute as an organisation.